Archive for the 'Blog' Category



You never know who you're going to work with

So best to think ahead, make a mental note anytime you meet someone, could you work with them? what would they be good at?

It might be 3 months, 2 years or 20 years and when the situation arises you already have someone to solve the problem!

It’s a knack I learned in some book but has been tremendously helpful at Young & Shand.

This habit has helped us immensely, there’s no harm in doing it, it’s all win/win.

December 21st, 2010

We're in the business of

doing things, doing things consistently, doing things that once packaged are worth more than their individual parts.

Doing things that exceed customers expectations, everytime.

Doing things that change the status quo, shift our customers forward.

Get customers from one house to another, help grow a business, increase their status, create an enjoyable and memorable experience….

December 20th, 2010

Talking Pop Up Stores

Pop Up stores are a neat concept, stores that pop up at a retail location for a set period of time then close.

I talked about them on KiwiFm earlier in the week, have  a watch/listen:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GtK9Iumrvg

With a whole new generation of people living and breathing the digital world, the novelty & exclusivity of pop up stores (and thus experiences) are only going to increase.  Especially when people can (and will) share that exclusivity to their networks through services like Facebook Places & FourSquare.

December 13th, 2010

Growth, it happens in steps

Fred Wilson the venture capitalist shares this picture of step function growth.

This is the same exact curve you get with any idea.  You will bump into it again and again; user growth, idea propagation, growing your company.

Just realise when you’re at that flat area before a curve, this is usually where you need to tip an idea over, get it approved, get the right amount of support.  It’s at this point where stress is the highest, presssure amounts and you want to quit.  But it’s exactly where you should push through.

Then you wake up one morning and suddenly everythings changed.  Get used to it.

December 12th, 2010

Everyone starts… little finish

You see it’s super easy to get started, it’s also just as easy to leave something to the wayside (quitting without acknowledging your quitting) which is what most people do.

It is hard to say “I quit” and consciously end something.  Yet it’s very refreshing. If you can do this – excellent.

However the value is in finishing, going along the journey and achieving the idea.  It may not be what you originally thought but it’s what you learn along the way.

Also developing a habit of doing what you say means you end up in all sorts of places, promotes credibility and makes you second guess what you’re going to say.

If you’d like to read an excellent little book on this, it’s called The Dip, it’s excellent.

December 9th, 2010

Another way of looking at it

What do people hunger for?

What do they really thirst for?

Imagine their current state is desperation, your product is the answer, what do are they desperate for?

[Note: Written whilst hungry]

December 8th, 2010

The hidden side of everything

It’s the tagline of the Freakonomics Podcast (which is excellent).

And it’s a great mantra to have, ‘to discover the hidden side of everything’.

December 6th, 2010

Knowing your target is the first half of the battle

Once you’ve identified it you can ruthlessly attack and achieve the objective.

But if you haven’t identified it what are you achieving?

December 5th, 2010

I'm back

In action today

Well getting back into the swing of things

Honeymoon was excellent; Bora Bora Tahiti is well recommended!

Blogging shall resume Monday.

-Ben

December 2nd, 2010

What are you doing all the way down here? You could:
- View my about page
- Or for first timers the New Here? page
- Or maybe email this to a friend
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